I started Capricorn Bicycles as a culmination of skills, knowledge, and passion accumulated through different and varied jobs I’ve had over the last ten years: notably Waterford Precision Cycles frame-builder, visual art student, Freewheel Bike bicycle mechanic, and Peace Coffee Bicycle Delivery. After a 2000-mile solo bicycle ride to Seattle, a period of some intense soul-searching, I decided to start my own business.

Capricorn Bicycles started in my parents’ basement in Kenosha, WI where I rediscovered the satisfaction and patience of making something by hand. The first frames were somewhat crude, made on improvised plywood and angle iron fixtures, but the process of relearning the craft provided a sort of blank slate in which to experiment with both materials and technique. Sure, at times there was some frustration, periods of blank stares, and rushed trips to Menards for raw materials for yet another fixture. There wasn’t a project left unfinished though, and most of those early bikes are still ridden enthusiastically.

Now Capricorns are made in Minneapolis. I’ve invested, piece by piece, in what almost resembles a sophisticated workshop. I’m still learning my craft everyday that I work and still feel the inherent satisfaction with each finished project. The best part of the job is working with each cyclist on an individual basis, getting to know something about them, and making a frame that suits their needs and their character.